Tazzari presents light electric vehicle trio

Italian electric vehicle manufacturer Tazzari has unveiled three new light electric vehicles at the Eicma trade fair in Milan: a two-seater city car, a delivery van and a retro-style four-seater buggy.

Tazzari might be familiar to some of you from an earlier collaboration with Switzerland’s Micro Mobility Systems. Originally, the Italian company was meant to produce the Microlino electric city runabout, but this is now being produced by its manufacturer Micro Mobility Systems itself along with their partner CECOMP. In any case, Tazzari is now fishing in the same waters with its new portfolio – that of light electric vehicles. In Milan, the company is now presenting the Minimax 45 and Minimax 80 electric two-seaters, the Minimax Cubo mini-transporter and a buggy called Zero 4.

Tazzari is positioning the Minimax as a compact city runabout in the Minimax 45 and Minimax 80 versions. The names reflect the respective top speeds of the two electric vehicles. The former is a representative of the L6e class, which can be driven in Italy with an AM driving licence from 14 years of age. The Minimax 80 is an L7e vehicle that requires a B1 or B driving licence. The model is 2,129 mm long, 1,200 mm wide and 1,668 mm high and weighs between 425 and 450 kg without battery and rides on 14- or 15-inch wheels. The front-engine produces 6 kW continuous and 10 kW peak power (Minimax 45) or 11.5 kW continuous and 15 kW peak power (Minimax 80).

Two battery options are available for each vehicle variant. The Minimax 45 is offered with either a 5.6 or 11.2 kWh battery, which should be enough for a range of 81 or 162 kilometres respectively. The Minimax 80 can be ordered with a 7.8 or 11.2 kWh battery, which should be enough for 112 or 162 kilometres respectively. However, according to Tazzari, the range figures refer to a constant speed of 45 km/h.

The Italian company gives a two-year warranty on both the vehicle and the battery. Standard equipment includes a 2 kW on-board charger, a keyless start and door opening system and an integrated Bluetooth audio system. Options available at an extra cost include air conditioning, ABS and a reversing camera. Tazzari charges 12,990 euros net for the basic model with a small battery.

The electric mini-transporter Minimax Cubo is available in three versions: as a pickup, as a van or as a basic model with a freely customisable body. The L7e-CU class vehicle is just as wide and high as the Minimax city car, but at 3,228 mm it is a good metre longer. The manufacturer puts the weight without battery at 600 kg, the payload also at 600 kilograms, the top speed at 65 km/h and the storage capacity at 150, 310 or 510 litres. The Minimax Cube also stands on 14- or 15-inch wheels.

As with the Minimax 80, the power output of the mini-transporter is given as 11.5 kW and 15 kW at peak power. The battery options are 7.8 kWh, 11.2 kWh or 22.4 kWh. The range – at a constant 45 km/h – is said to be up to 104, 156 and 312 kilometres. The same 2 kW onboard charger is fitted ex-works as in the city cars, but Tazzari also offers a 3.3 or 6.6 kW onboard charger at extra cost. The standard equipment or chargeable options are also similar. With the cheapest battery, the Minimax Cubo is available from 17,990 euros net.

The Italian company’s range of products for the fair is completed by the Zero 4 electric buggy. 3,204 mm long, 1,500 mm wide and 1,600 mm high, the dimensions of the L7e vehicle differ from those of the previously mentioned models. The weight is said to be from 450 kilos (without battery). The same applies to the motorisation. The four-seater has 15 kW continuous and 25 kW peak power. The battery options are an 8-kWh or a 14.2-kWh unit for a range of 103 or 180 kilometres, respectively, according to WMTC. The 3.3-kW on-board charger is fitted ex-works, with the 6.6-kW counterpart available at extra cost. Prices for the electric buggy start at 18,990 euros net.

The interest in ultra-small city vehicles has sky-rocketed recently. On one hand, this has been propelled by the experiences of logistics companies with more effective delivery rates with smaller vehicles, on the other hand, with the wild success of the Hongguang Mini EV in China – the product of a General Motors joint venture SAIC’s Wuling brand which is making waves by consistently being the highest selling model overall in China – sometimes doubling or tripling sales figures of other top electric car models. This has had consequences. The Chinese-American microcar is now coming to Europe and this success has propelled the joint venture to bring out another microcar, the Nano EV.

Tazzari won’t be without strong competition in Europe. Besides the aforementioned Microlino among others, carmaking giant Stellantis has brought out a very small city car with Citroen’s Ami and Opel’s Rocks-e. Electric buggies are also not a complete novelty, since recently UK’s Moke announced that its iconic beach jeep of Beetles fame is to become all-electric. The small-vehicle landscape is of course becoming increasingly diversified beyond cars as all kinds of pedal-electric cargo vehicles come to market – all with the advantage of financial, spatial and energy savings over conventional cars in cities.

Tazzari Minimax city vehicles can be now be configured on the Tazzari website. The company has not yet provided further details on ordering and sales modalities.

Including reporting by Cora Werwitzke

tazzari-zero.com (car configurator minimax), tazzari-zero.com (minimax cubo configurator), tazzari-zero.com (zero 4 buggy configurator)